Apple in its Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) has introduced the HomePod a smart speaker. We had already predicted Apple will bring this kind of speaker into the market. This new speaker will take on Amazon's Echo devices, Google Home, and Microsoft's Cortana powered Harman Kardon Invoke Speaker.
Apple HomePod unveiled at WWDC 2017
The Apple HomePod is priced at $349 (Approximately Rs. 22,500). This new Siri-powered speaker can make music recommendations, send text messages, make calls, check news, and control smart home gadgets.
The HomePod users will be limited to the stuff they can do due to the limitations of Siri compared to the other competitors like Alexa and Google Assistant. But Apple is expected to announce a larger variety of apps to be compatible with Siri.
The HomePod speaker comes in just under seven inches tall with a fabric mesh covering. This new smart speaker will be available in two colours white and grey. This will utilise a computer processor to tune the sound to the room and beam the music to the listener.
Apple will start shipping out the HomePod to the United States, Britain and Australia in December with the iMac Pro which was also showcased at WWDC17.
This marked Apple's first new product launch since the Apple Watch in September 2014. This new product will challenge Sonos, a WiFi controlled speaker manufacturer. With this Apple also wants to compete with Google's Assistant which now is supported by multiple devices. Including Apple smartphones.
A new Siri interface was also introduced in WWDC built into the watchOS 4. This will help the users in many ways like put airline tickets into the calendar, text someone, etc.
Apple is going to hold the Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) today where all of the new software and hardware that Apple has been working on for the past few years will be displayed. The event will kick off at 10 AM Pacific Standard Time which translates to around 10:30 PM Indian Standard Time.
Where and How to watch the Keynote?
The WWDC 2017 keynote will be held where it is every year in Cupertino. Apple will be live streaming the event as usual but now to even wider audience as this year they have included Microsoft's Edge browser into the compatible list. The live stream can be seen at Apple’s Developers Website. Also, Apple iDevice users can stream directly through the WWDC Live application.
What to launch?
Software Offerings
iOS 11
Apple, as usual, will be launching the newer version of its mobile operating system (iOS) with various upgrades to better the user experience. iOS 11 is also rumoured to expand support for the Apple pencil to other devices along with iPad specific changes.
macOS 10.13
Apple will be following its trend and also releasing the new macOS in WWDC 2017 which will be the second iteration with the new nomenclature after the dropping of the OSX nomenclature.
The new macOS will also introduce the Apple Filesystem (APFS) to the public which was in developer beta in macOS Sierra. The new APFS system has been praised a lot by the iOS users who have gotten this feature before the macOS.
TVOS 11 and WatchOS 4
Not much is known about what upgrades will Apple be introducing in the TVOS and the WatchOS, but there are strong rumours both of these will launch. Though Apple might be leaving out the first generation watch out of the upgrade cycle.
Hardware Offerings
This is the first time ever that Apple WWDC will be featuring hardware launches along with the software launches. The following devices might get launched by Apple:
Siri Smart Speaker
Amazon Echo and Google Home are the only current contenders in the smart speaker market which are extremely wide and are having huge profits.
Apple is rumoured to be launching a Siri and AirPlay-powered smart speaker with Beats technology integrated.
10.5″ iPad Pro
Apple has been rumoured to have been working on a 10.5-inch iPad Pro with various leaks to prove it. It is similar in size to the current iPad Pro with smaller bezels to get a bigger display. Alongside this Apple might also introduce the new Apple Pencil.
New MacBooks
Two MacBooks as rumoured to be launched by Apple at WWDC 2017. One MacBook and the other a MacBook Pro. Though rumours also stated that Apple is working on a new MacBook Air but as per our sources in Apple the MacBook Air won't be updated.
Adobe, on Friday, launched a new app named Adobe Scan, it is a free app that helps make people's smartphones into a scanning tool along with handwritten text recognition.
The launch of Adobe Scan represents a radical reimagination of how to capture the world around us in ways that only Adobe can deliver. Adobe invented PDF creation for PCs and with Scan, we are doing the same for a mobile-first users around the world.
Kulmeet Bawa, Managing Director, South Asia, Adobe
With the help of the Adobe Scan app, you can turn your phone or tablet into a smart scanning tool that recognises text. The app also allows you to convert the scans directly into PDFs thus saving time.
The application is being powered by Adobe's Sensei intelligent services, which helps in automatic boundary detection, auto cropping, perspective correction, auto-cleaning, removing shadows and making the text clear.
Adobe Scan, powered by Adobe Sensei's intelligent services, represents a critical step toward our broader innovation imperative for Adobe Document Cloud.
Abhay Parasnis, Chief Technology Officer at Adobe.
The Adobe Scan application is available on Android and iOS app stores with both versions supporting automatic text recognition(OCR).
Snap a picture of any document or anything with printed text and Adobe Scan will automatically convert it into digital text that can be selected, copied or annotated with Acrobat Reader DC or Acrobat DC. The content then becomes searchable and reusable in a secure and reliable Adobe PDF.
Adobe.
The users along with the app will get a free Adobe Document Cloud account to upload and store the scanned files automatically.
Sony’s stunning new Xperia XZ Premium with the World’s First Smartphone with 4K HDR Display
World’s First Smartphone with a 4K HDR Display
Timeless design with reflective surface
Powerful performance with Gigabit-class LTE connectivity
Ground-breaking Motion Eye camera with Super Slow Motion and Predictive capture
Studio-like sound experience with High Resolution Audio
Pre-Booking from 2nd - 11th June, 2017 to avail Free Wireless Bluetooth Speaker SRS-XB20 worth Rs.8,990/-
Sony India today announced its most ground-breaking smartphone to date, Xperia XZ Premium, powered by an amazing 4K HDR display, super-fast download speeds, a stunning loop design and a camera so advanced that it captures motion that the human eye can’t see, and also powered by many more intelligent features.
Specifications
Category
Xperia XZ Premium
SIM capability
Dual SIM Nano SIM
Memory and storage
4GB RAM 64GB eMMC internal memory* microSDXC support (up to 256GB)
Durability
Water resistant (IP65/68)* Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5
Dimensions
156 x 77 x 7.9 mm
Weight
191g
Display
5.5" 4K HDR Display TRILUMINOS Display for mobile X-Reality for mobile picture engine Dynamic Contrast Enhancer sRGB 138% spectrum compared to Standard videos(SDR)
19MP Motion Eye camera 1/ 2.3” Exmor RS for mobile memory stacked sensor Pixel Pitch 1.22μm Triple image sensing technology Predictive Hybrid Autofocus 960 fps Super slow motion videos Predictive Capture 0.5 sec Quick Launch & Capture Anti-distortion shutter Low-light photo: ISO12800 /4000 (Video) HDR Photo 25 mm wide Sony’s award-winning G Lens F2.0 x8 Digital Zoom BIONZ for mobile image-processing engine SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode (5-axis stablization) 4K recording
Front camera
13MP 1/ 3.06” Exmor RS for mobile image sensor 22mm Wide-angle lens F2.0 ISO 6400 (Photo) / 1600 (Video) SteadyShot with Intelligent Active Mode (5-axis stablization)
Networks
GSM GPRS/EDGE (2G) UMTS HSPA+ (3G) VoLTE (4G) Cat16*** with Gigabit-class speeds
Connectivity
A-GNSS (GPS + GLONASS)*** WiFi Miracast Bluetooth® 5.0 wireless technology DLNA Certified® Google Cast NFC USB 3.1 Type-C
Fingerprint Sensor
Fast and secure unlock
Sound
High-Resolution Audio (LPCM, FLAC, ALAC, DSD) DSEE HX LDAC Digital Noise Cancelling Clear Audio+ Stereo speaker with S-Force Front Surround Stereo Recording
Entertainment
PS4 Remote Play
*Memory comprises approximately 15.6GB of firmware, plus 48.4GB of "Internal Storage" for music, pictures, movies and downloaded applications and their data
**XZ Premium is water resistant and protected against dust, so don’t worry if you get caught in the rain or want to wash off dirt under the faucet water, but remember all ports and attached covers should be firmly closed. You should not put the device completely underwater; or expose it to seawater, salt water, chlorinated water, or liquids such as drinks. Abuse and improper use of device will invalidate warranty. The device has been tested under Ingress Protection rating IP65/68. For more info, see www.sonymobile.com/waterresistant. Note the Xperia XZ Premium has a capless USB port to connect and charge. The USB port must be completely dry before charging.
*** This service is not available in all in all variants or markets.
World’s First Smartphone with a 4K HDR Display
For the first time ever in a smartphone, Xperia XZ Premium features a 4K HDR (High Dynamic Range, 2160 x 3840) 5.5” display. A truly unique Sony experience, it uses Sony’s BRAVIA TV technology to give you an immersive 4K HDR viewing experience in the palm of your hand, removing the constraints of your sofa. Astonishing brightness, colour, clarity and contrast are realised to create levels of realism you almost feel part of the scene. The sharp, vivid quality of the display is enriched by Sony’s native technologies TRILUMINOS Display for mobile, X-Reality for mobile and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer.
Timeless design with reflective surface
With so many advanced technologies working in harmony, it is only fitting that the Xperia XZ Premium has a harmonious design to match, making it beautiful on the inside and out. The exterior has an exquisite glass loop surface which when turned over reveals a reflective surface on the back. Every aspect of the XZ Premium is unified, from its seamless flowing lines and intuitive fingerprint sensor power button to the Diamond cut finish on top and bottom of the phone.
Rain is one less thing to think about when you’re out and about with the Xperia XZ Premium. It’s water resistant, dust-proof and reinforced with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 on the front and back of the handset, taking beauty and durability to new heights.
Powerful performance with Gigabit-class LTE connectivity
Xperia XZ Premium is powered by the cutting edge Qualcomm® Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform, making it one of the very first smartphones capable of Gigabit Class LTE (up to 1Gbps). This is possible because of the integrated Snapdragon X16 LTE modem, which has the potential to transform how customers use their mobile devices by delivering fibre optic speeds on the go. The Snapdragon 835 platform also supports stunning graphics, superior performance and enhanced battery efficiency. File transfers are also supercharged thanks to the USB 3.1 connection which is 10 times quicker than USB 2.0 with a transfer speed of up to 5Gbps. And with the USB Type-C socket, plugging in is easy because the connector is always the right way up.
Ground-breaking Motion Eye camera with Super Slow Motion and Predictive capture
Encapsulating decades of Sony innovation, Xperia XZ Premium incorporates imaging know-how embedded on Sony ‘α’ and Cyber-shot cameras to create the new Motion Eye camera system, for capturing life in ways no other smartphone can. Featuring a memory stacked ExmorRS sensor with technologies usually only found on premium cameras, it provides 5x faster image scanning and data transfer. This enables you to create sensational videos from your everyday moments by recording in 960 frames per second, providing Super slow motion video playback that is four times slower than other smartphones giving you more detail than has ever been possible in the palm of your hand.
Predictive Capture stays one step ahead and automatically starts buffering images when it detects motion even before you press the button, so you can find a moment your eye may just have missed from a selection of up to four shots taken a second before you clicked. On top of this, the new 19MP high resolution sensor has 19% larger pixels to capture more light and provides exceptional detail and sharp images even in low-light and backlit conditions. Additional improvements have been made inside Motion Eye to the Bionz for mobile processing engine meaning it detects moving objects more precisely to enable Predictive Capture. Clarity, detail and texture are also improved to give exceptional image quality thanks to the redesigned G lens with high optical clarity.
Studio-like sound experience with High Resolution Audio
The Sony experience is continued through to the audio and gaming capabilities. High Resolution Audio playback allows you to hear every nuance and detail in a track as if you’re right there with the artist. Sony’s native DSEE HX technology even up-scales streamed tracks or MP3s to near High-res quality and if you connect with wireless speakers or headphones, LDAC ensures you don’t lose a drop of sound quality by transferring three times more audio data than normal Bluetooth.
Working with your PlayStation®4 console, you can play the latest cutting-edge games on your Xperia XZ Premium. Its advanced processing and fast memory access means gameplay is always smooth and responsive, plus the 4K screen and powerful stereo speakers make it feel like you’re actually in the game.
Smart Actions
Taking intelligence to the next level Xperia XZ Premium learns how you use your phone and adapts and makes recommendations to give you our most smartest and personal experience yet. The battery is maximised with Smart Stamina which uses the Xperia learning engine to accurately estimate how long your current battery will last based on your normal usage. It even warns you if it detects you’re going to run out of power later that day and prompts you to activate Stamina mode. Battery Care and Qnovo Adaptive Charging are also included to protect your battery and keep it healthy up to twice as long.
Xperia Tips and new Xperia Actions offer you handy advice about the features you’re using and even suggests map downloads based on your location, all aimed at making life that little bit easier.
Battery Care
The phone is mostly charged overnight, but if left plugged-in after it’s fully charged, battery life degrades. Battery Care solves this by learning the user wake up time. It charges to 90%, pauses and then tops up to 100% to just before the user usual.
Quick Charge
Xperia XZ Premium comes with quick charger, UCH-12, bundled with the phones as supplied accessory. With QC-3.0 charging the phone can be charged 60% in 45 minutes.
USB Type C connecter
Xperia XZ Premium comes equipped with latest Type C USB connector for faster data transfer and charging speeds.
Android N out of the box
The latest and most updated version of Android OS is available out of the box in Xperia XZ Premium.
Pre-Booking Offer
There will be a limited period pre-booking offer from 2nd June – 11th June, 2017. As part of this offer, customers will get SRS-XB20 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker worth Rs. 8,990/-
Xperia XZ Premium can be pre-booked at all Sony Center, select retail outlets and Online exclusively on Amazon.com.
What’s inside the box:
One unit of Xperia XZ Premium
Instruction Manual
Quick Charger (UCH12) worth MRP 1,490/-
USB Type-C Cable
In Ear Headphone MH-750
Bundle Offers with Xperia XZ Premium
Sony LIV: Free 3 months subscription worth Rs.349/-
Play Modern Combat 5 and get 5200 Game Credits for free
ASUS has unveiled the ZenFone Live, the world’s first smartphone with hardware-optimized, real-time beautification technology engineered into the brand-new BeautyLive app, enabling users to share more glamorous versions of themselves live.
Front Camera with large, 1.4µm sensor pixels for 2X-greater light sensitivity and a dedicated soft-light LED flash, ZenFone Live elevates mobile live-streaming to new quality levels, ensuring that selfie video is clearer, brighter and more beautiful. ZenFone Live also has dual micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphones to help eliminate background noise and enhance voice pickup, an innovative five-magnet speaker and smart amplifier for powerful audio, along with the DTS Headphone:X™, a 2.5D curved display and a lustrous sandblasted metallic finish.
Live-streaming is currently the darling of the social media space, praised by ‘thought leaders’ and ‘gurus’ alike as the next phase of evolution via social networks. With the advent of live streaming capabilities on almost all social media platforms, we realised that our customers needed a smartphone which would enable them to ace their live casts. ASUS ZenFone Live is a result of a stellar combination of innovative technology, consumer feedback, and latest trends.
Peter Chang, Region Head – South Asia & Country Manager of ASUS India
Real-time glamour: BeautyLive app for live-streaming beautification direct to social media
ZenFone Live’s all-new BeautyLive app introduces the world to real-time beautification, allowing users to create and maintain the perfect look when going live on their favourite social-networking sites.
BeautyLive combines smart software algorithms and hardware acceleration to automatically smooth skin and removes blemishes, and it integrates seamlessly with Facebook, Instagram, andYouTube.The result is the ability to craft and broadcast instant glamour that keeps the user looking as beautiful as they want to be throughout every live-streaming session. The BeautyLive feature works with both front and rear camera.
Fine-tuned selfie camera: 2X-greater light sensitivity, soft-light LED flash and 82° field of view
ZenFone Live’s front-facing camera is made for snapping sharper, clearer selfies. The sensor has extra-large, 1.4μm pixels that improve sensitivity to light by up to 200 percent compared to smartphones with standard smaller pixels.ZenFone Live also has a soft-light LED flash that illuminates true skin tones, and it’s equipped with a wide-angle lens with an 82° field of view — so users are able to frame, capture details in wide-angle and broadcast it to the world.
ZenFone Live also has a 13MP rear camera with f/2.0-aperture, five-prism rear lens, and benefits from ASUS PixelMaster’s industry-leading low-light technology to increase light sensitivity by up to 400 percent. It also enhances noise reduction and boosts colour contrast by up to 400 percent. It supports up to 12 different camera modes, including real-time Beautification, Low Light and Super Resolution modes, to captures beautiful, high-resolution photos.
Dual MEMS Microphones
To ensure that the user’s voice is always heard, ZenFone Live has a pair of highly sensitive MEMS microphones that are expertly tuned and precisely positioned to reduce noise. This careful arrangement means that speech pickup is crystal clear, so users are able to enjoy live-streamed social-media fun in total clarity — whether the backdrop is a busy street, a noisy bar, or the hustle and bustle of a shopping mall.
Powerful audio: Five-magnet speaker and smart amplifier
ZenFone Live features a powerful speaker with a five-magnet design and metal voice coil to produce loud and clear audio with supreme quality in every scenario. This speaker is powered by a smart amplifier that increases audio resolution and loudness while ensuring that the speaker is not damaged.ZenFone Live also features DTS Headphone:X™, a revolutionary surround-sound technology that synthesises a full 7.1-channel virtual surround-sound experience, making all content sound better over headphones.
With this unique combination, ZenFone Live produces and delivers audio that’s up to 67 percent louder than the previous generation, while also extending low-frequency reproduction by up to 17 percent and reducing distortion by up to 15 percent.
Gorgeous design: Premium construction, metallic-finish, 2.5D cover glass and 75% screen-to-body ratio
ZenFone Live’s brilliant 5 inch IPS HD display shines brightly through the strong glass that is precision-milled at the edges to create a gentle, 2.5D curve. The natural, ergonomic feel of the glass flows around to the back, for comfort that matches the fine style.ZenFone Live also has an impressive 75 percent screen-to-body ratio, for more screen and less bulk.
The ZenFone Live features a premium build quality with sandblasted metallic finish that feels as great as it looks, and is available in three stunning colours — Navy Black, Rose Pink, and Shimmer Gold
AVAILABILITY
Priced at INR 9,999, the ASUS ZenFone Live will be available from May 24th, 2017 with all major E-tailers and Retailers in India.
Facebook Inc has signed deals with millennial-focused news and entertainment creators Vox Media, BuzzFeed, ATTN, Group Nine Media and others to make shows for its upcoming video service, which will feature long and short-form content with ad breaks, according to several sources familiar with the situation.
Facebook is planning two tiers of video entertainment: scripted shows with episodes lasting 20 to 30 minutes, which it will own; and shorter scripted and unscripted shows with episodes lasting about 5 to 10 minutes, which Facebook will not own, according to the sources.
Coins Reaches Over a Million Customers, Raises $5M From Naspers to Expand Operations
Blockchain technology leader looks to cement leading position in Southeast Asia personal finance and payments market
Coins, Southeast Asia’s leading blockchain-enabled mobile payments platform, announced today the closing of a $5 million fundraiser led by Naspers through its Naspers Ventures division, bringing the total amount raised in its Series A to over US$9.4M. As one of the first examples of a digital financial service built on top of blockchain technology to gain traction with everyday consumers, Coins enables anyone – including those without a bank account – to access a broad range of financial services directly from their mobile phone. To date, the company has signed up over one million customers.
Coins - Team
Today, the company also announced the appointment of James Caviness, Vice President and Chief Product Officer of Naspers business PayU, as a new board member.
Coins operate primarily in the Philippines and Thailand and plan to expand to other markets where consumer access to traditional financial services such as credit, banking and remittances is either limited or prohibitively expensive. Coins’ mobile wallet has generated a strong leadership position, providing consumers with the first point of access to a wide range of financial services including remittances, airtime top-ups, e-commerce and P2P payments.
“Coins has done an excellent job of providing consumers with easy, cost-effective access to core financial services,” said James Caviness, Coins board member. “With its secure, scalable platform, built on exciting and potentially disruptive blockchain technology, we expect Coins to continue to grow and expand across Southeast Asia.”
By leveraging blockchain technology and partnerships with existing financial institutions, they have been able to directly connect over one million previously unbanked customers with its ecosystem of financial services. The new investment will further accelerate its regional growth and allow Coins to establish additional cash-based services and partnerships to further serve its customers.
Ron Hose - CEO of Coins
“Coins has become a key component of our customers’ everyday lives, allowing them to do everything from sending payments to shopping online,” said Ron Hose, CEO of Coins. “With Naspers Ventures, we’ve gained a great partner in our mission to democratise financial services by making them easily accessible and usable by anyone. We are extremely excited to be working together with them to build a more financially inclusive future.”
Nubia today announced the launch of its Nubia N1 Lite smartphone in India. The N1 lite designed keeping in mind the aspirations of Indian consumers and focuses on reliability and performance. The N1 Lite comes with three categories first features; first is the front soft-light flash which along with the selfie beauty algorithm, can enhance your beauty in both, day or night photos.
The second innovation in N1 Lite is the fingerprint scanner which can unlock the device in .3 seconds, even when the screen is off. The same scanner can unlock apps and files and the third category first feature that defines N1 lite is the F2.0 large aperture rear camera which allows 20% more light than the F2.2 aperture units normally seen in the market.
N1 Lite carries signature nubia style which makes it tough and dependable. Its 5.5-inch screen with 2.5D glass in front and the edge arc on its back, give it a sense of roundness offering a comfortable grip. The UV coating at the back gives a pebble-like fine-sanded feeling, which makes it less slippery, while the “Uni-Panel” at the back, with the back camera and fingerprint sensor, offers a sophisticated look and finish to the device.
Comment on the Nubia N1 Lite launch
Nubia is committed to offering best in class technology across all price points to its customers in India. We are known for our camera technology across the globe. And with N1 Lite we are offering category first front soft light flash and fingerprint scanner. The N1 Lite is dependable, tough, good-looking.
Mr. Eric Hu, Country Head, nubia India
Availability
The Nubia N1 Lite will be exclusively available in India via Amazon India for Rs.6,999/-. The sale will star from May 22, 2017, 12:00 PM.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Basic Information
Height: 153.0mm
Width: 77.5mm
Thickness: 8.4mm
Weight: 171g
RAM: 2GB
ROM: 16GB
Colours: Black Gold
Camera
Rear camera
8MP
4P Precision Optical Lens
F2.0 Aperture
Front camera
5MP
3-pieces Lens
F2.8 Aperture
84°Wide Angle
Front Facing Camera Beauty Filter
Display
Size: 5.5"
Resolution: 1280x720
PPI：267
Display technology: a-si HD Display
Manufacturing process: Full Lamination
Processor
MTK 6737
Quad Core 4xA53 1.25GHz
64-bit
ARM Mali-T720 image processor, 550MHz
Memory
RAM: 2GB
ROM: 16GB
MicroSD（TF）card: up to 32GB
Network & Wireless
For Asia
FDD LTE:B1/B3/B5/B7/B8/B20
TD-LTE B40
UMTS B1/B2/B5/B8
GSM B2/B3/B5/B8
Sensor
Compass
G-sensor
Ambient light sensor
Proximity sensor
HALL
Location
GPS
Operation System
Google UI（based on Android M）
Multimedia
Supported video formats: MP4、3GP/3G2、MOV、MKV、AVI、FLV
The Nubia N1 lite comes equipped with a front soft-light flash, which is a category first at the price point
N1 Lite comes with dual LED flash over rear camera which makes pictures brighter and clearer in low light
Nubia N1 Lite has a category first F2.0 large aperture rear camera. Which ensures 20% more light enters the camera than F2.2, which is commonly seen in the market.
N1 Lite is a performance powerhouse with its 5.5-inch screen. Supported by 3000 mAh battery and Quad-Core 64 Bit processor and dual sim slots.
The Brainwavz B200 earphones are designed for high performance and comfort in mind. This dual driver earphone has been tuned to produce a balanced and accurate sound signature, with little to no colouring in the sound, listen to your music as the artist intended it to be heard. The B200 over the ear design and small form factor allow for a comfortable and ergonomic fit.
The B200 is an audiophile grade, a high-performance earphone that is suitable for most genres of music.
French researchers have found out a way for you to unlock your windows files affected by the WannaCry ransomware without paying the ransom to these cyber terrorists.
WannaCry ransomware took the world by surprise last Friday. And till now it has infected over 3,00,000 computers in 150 nations. Also, threatening the users to lock them out if a ransom of $300 to $600 is not paid within a week of infection.
Unlock WannaCry without paying the ransom
A few security researchers around the world have collaborated together and developed a workaround to unlock the encryption key for the users affected. But, these workarounds work only in a few conditions, which are -
If the computers had not been rebooted since becoming infected.
If victims apply the fix before WannaCry has carried out its threat to lock their files permanently.
Europol in a tweet said that. Their Cyber Crime team has tested out this new tool. And found it worked in some circumstances.
The team which developed this tool included Adrien Guinet a security expert, Matthieu Suiche an internationally known hacker, and Benjamin Delpy who helped in his spare time, outside his day job at the Banque de France.
We knew we must go fast because, as time passes, there is less chance to recover
Benjamin Delpy
The tool released to decrypt the WannaCry ransomware at 6 am Paris time on Friday. This free tool for decrypting the ransomware without paying the ransom is being called by Deply wanakiwi. We also have reviewed a tool to avoid any ransomware, you can read about it here.
WanaKiwi the free and only tool to decrypt WannaCry
Matthieu Suiche also published a blog specifying the technical details about the tool that the team has built. Wanakiwi has been tested out and shown to work on the Windows 7 and earlier operating systems. Also, a fix is being developed hastily to make the tool work on Windows 2008 and Vista.
Deply also added in his statement that so far Indian, and European country banking, energy and government intelligence agencies have contacted him for the fix.
The idea in this tool involves extracting the keys to the WannaCry encryption codes using prime numbers. Ignoring trying to break the endless string of digits behind the software's full encryption key.
This is not a perfect solution. But this is so far the only workable solution to help enterprises to recover their files if they have been infected and have no back-ups. Which allow users to restore data without paying black-mailers.
Matthieu Suiche
As of now, only $94,000 have been paid to these cyber terrorists, which is only 309 transactions. which means just under one in 1,000 of the estimated victims have paid the ransom.
